The incident took place on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 15 in the city's Jiangsu province
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NEED TO KNOW
- Authorities have confirmed that 8 people have been killed and a further two injured after an explosion at a fireworks store in the Jiangsu province of Beijing, China
- The statement, which was reported by multiple outlets including CBS News and The South China Morning Post, added that the blast was cause by a resident “improperly set[ting] off fireworks near the store”
- The blast came ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year which falls on Tuesday, Feb 17 and also marks the start of the year of the horse
Eight people have been killed in an explosion at a fireworks shop in Beijing, China, ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The incident took place on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb 15, in Jiangsu province. According to a statement from the Donghai county government, the blast was caused by a resident “improperly set off fireworks near the store,” per CBS News. The South China Morning Post added that, as well as the fatalities, two people received “minor” burns in the incident.
The Chinese New Year, which is also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival in China, falls on Tuesday, Feb 17, and also marks the start of the year of the horse. Setting off fireworks and firecrackers at midnight on Lunar New Year is a tradition in China, as they are seen as a way to drive away evil spirits and usher in good luck and prosperity. But many places have banned fireworks in recent years, not least because of air pollution.
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Following the blast, the Ministry of Emergency Management urged all regions to strengthen the supervision of the production, transportation, sales and use of fireworks to prevent future accidents, according to The South China Morning Post.
The statement said that “trying out fireworks and firecrackers” around stores should be “strictly prohibited.” They also called on local governments "to ensure the people have a safe, auspicious and happy Spring Festival."
“The fight against illegal activities must be continuously deepened,” the statement said, while also calling for officials to punish offences like the illegal delivery of fireworks and firecrackers,” the statement added, per The Post.
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PEOPLE has reached out to the Donghai county government and the Ministry of Emergency Management for further information, but didn’t immediately receive responses.
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